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Ethereum Foundation drops Poseidon from post-quantum plan as compact proof gains close the gap

Poseidon held a performance advantage inside the Ethereum Foundation's post-quantum design. Researcher Justin Drake said that advantage is now gone. Advances in compact proofs erased it, and the Foundation is pivoting away from Poseidon in…

By Reuben Salcedo·Aug 14, 2026·1 min read·crypto·$ETH

Key takeaways

  • The Ethereum Foundation is dropping Poseidon from its post-quantum plan because Poseidon's prior performance advantage has disappeared.
  • Researcher Justin Drake said advances in compact proofs erased the edge that had made Poseidon a logical fit for the post-quantum roadmap.
  • The Foundation's post-quantum work continues without Poseidon, relying on compact proof performance to fill the gap it was selected to cover.
  • No replacement primitive was specified for Poseidon in the updated plan.
  • Justin Drake, identified as a researcher, is the named voice behind the assessment driving the pivot.

Poseidon held a performance advantage inside the Ethereum Foundation's post-quantum design. Researcher Justin Drake said that advantage is now gone. Advances in compact proofs erased it, and the Foundation is pivoting away from Poseidon in its post-quantum plan as a result.

The compact proof advance that changed the calculus

Drake attributed the shift directly to progress in compact proofs. Poseidon's prior edge over other options had made it a logical fit for the post-quantum roadmap. That edge closed as compact proof technology caught up. The performance argument for Poseidon no longer holds.

What the pivot means for $ETH protocol design

The Ethereum Foundation's post-quantum plan is now moving without Poseidon as a component. Drake, identified in the source as a researcher, is the named voice behind this assessment. No replacement primitive was specified. The Foundation's post-quantum work continues on the updated basis that compact proof performance fills the gap Poseidon was previously selected to cover.

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Frequently asked

Why is the Ethereum Foundation dropping Poseidon from its post-quantum plan?

Poseidon's prior performance advantage over other options is now gone because advances in compact proofs closed the gap, so the performance argument for Poseidon no longer holds.

Who made the assessment behind the pivot?

Justin Drake, identified in the source as a researcher, is the named voice who attributed the shift to progress in compact proofs.

What is replacing Poseidon in the post-quantum plan?

No replacement primitive was specified; the Foundation's post-quantum work continues on the basis that compact proof performance fills the gap Poseidon was previously selected to cover.

What technological advance caused the change?

Progress in compact proof technology caught up to and erased Poseidon's prior edge, changing the calculus for the post-quantum design.